Calcium

The human organism contains about 1kg of calcium, almost all of which is found in the bones. Calcium is essential not only for hard bones but also for stable tooth structures and the functioning of muscles and nerves.

Calcium is important for bones and teeth

The important mineral calcium has the main task of giving the teeth and bones stability and firmness, because it is able to form hard tissue. It is therefore also called the “bone mineral”.  

Muscles need calcium

Muscles can only work if calcium is available in sufficient quantities. This mineral, together with magnesium, is responsible for the ideal interaction of muscle and nerve cells. If too many of these two important minerals are lost due to heavy sweating, for example during sports, this is often manifested by painful muscle cramps. Thus we can see how indispensable they are. Calcium facilitates muscle contraction and magnesium relaxation. Calcium is therefore the important counterpart of the muscle relaxant magnesium. To prevent muscle cramps and muscle weakness, an optimal relationship between the two minerals should therefore be ensured.

Calcium plays an important role in nerves and blood clotting

It is also involved in many other processes in the body. Nutritional experts continuously tell us that our nerves and optimal blood clotting cannot work without calcium. If the blood cannot coagulate, wounds will not heal either. About the nerves, it is thought that neurological malfunctions occur in the body or brain in the event of an impaired calcium balance, for example, psychoses, epilepsy, and hallucinations.

Also, ensure an optimal vitamin D balance

Various hormones and vitamin D are involved in the fine-tuning of optimal calcium balance within the body. Without an adequate intake of vitamin D, bones are prevented from absorbing calcium. Calcium deficiency can therefore also be caused by vitamin D deficiency. 

What are the consequences of low calcium levels and who is in the risk group?

If the calcium requirement is increased or if too little is absorbed via food over a long period, bones can eventually become brittle. In the short term, a low calcium level is noticeable in many affected persons due to painful muscle cramps, while in the long term, it can cause osteoporosis. 

• Bone loss is often only diagnosed after decades. The following symptoms are also possible: 

• The skin may become dry. 

• It is also possible that hair might start to fall out and fingernails become brittle.  

The Nutrition Society recommends that adults take 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. Young people, post-menopausal women, and elderly people have a somewhat higher daily requirement of 1,200 milligrams. 1,300 milligrams should be consumed daily by pregnant and breastfeeding women. A deficiency can also occur in an unbalanced diet with insufficient intake of calcium or in people with lactose intolerance, i.e. who do not tolerate milk products containing lactose.